All about working with Virginia workers’ compensation lawyers
If you ever get injured at work, or discover an occupational disease, you may have the right to seek compensation through Virginia’s workers’ compensation system. All employers in the state, with more than three employees, are required to have workers’ compensation insurance, and in return, they get the immunity that the injured employee cannot sue them directly. That said, getting through the workers’ compensation system can be complicated. Working with a skilled Virginia injured on the job lawyer can be useful in many ways. In this post, we are sharing more on working with workers’ compensation lawyers in the state.
How can a lawyer help?
Hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer is entirely your personal call, but you should definitely consider hiring one. Here are some quick ways in which your lawyer can help –
- Determine the connection between your injuries and your work at the job.
- Understand the extent of your injuries.
- Determine the claim’s worth and how much to expect in compensation.
- Help with completing the necessary paperwork
- Negotiating with the insurance company
- Standing up to your employer, if need be
- Handle workers’ compensation appeals, if your claim is rejected.
Remember that the insurance company will do their best to reduce their financial liability, which may sometimes mean rejecting a claim for flimsy reasons. You need a workers’ compensation attorney, who can guide on the process and negotiate on your behalf. If your employer refuses to report your injury or ends up taking retaliatory action, your workers’ compensation lawyer will stand up for your rights.
How to find an attorney?
Ask around to find workers’ compensation lawyers that your friends, colleagues and family members may have worked with. Also, you can check on Google to find the best-rated lawyers in your state. Keep in mind that you need a lawyer who devotes considerable percentage of their practice to workers’ compensation claims and employment law related matters. Secondly, you have to check how much it would cost to hire a lawyer. Depending on the facts of the case and nature of work involved, some lawyers and law firms may work on a contingency basis, where they only ask for a settlement if they win. However, with workers’ compensation claims, that may not be the norm.
Check for top attorneys in Virginia and meet your lawyer to know what your workers’ compensation claim is worth and how you can avoid unwanted mistakes.